Best way to convert from Video8 and mini-DV tapes to a digital video file?

[modave]

Hello. I'm new to video editing and have a basic question. I have a whole lot of old Video8 and mini-DV videotapes I recorded, and I'd like to transfer them into digital files that I can edit on Final Cut Pro (once I learn how to edit) and post on YouTube for example. My understanding is that you can capture the video into a digital format using a video-editing software such as Final Cut Pro, or another option would be to do the capturing using a device such as the Cloner Alliance Box Pro or the ClearClick Video Capture Box which I found on Amazon. Which method/equipment/software would you recommend for doing the capture? What are the pros and cons of doing the capture inside Final Cut Pro vs using a device such as Cloner Alliance Box Pro or a similar device?

Thanks in advance!

[dellsam34]

miniDV is already digital, you just need to transfer it to computer using firewire port (aka iLink), Final cut pro is not a main capture program, capturing is just a side function of it. Analog tapes should be captured with Vdub or AmarecTV on a windows machine and best under Windows 7, None of the stand alone capture boxes you mentioned is recommended, Those are chinese crap.

[modave]

Thanks for the reply, dellsam34! You recommended I do the capture on a Windows machine. My computer is a mac with Catalina operating system -- is that going to be a barrier or big problem for me to do the capturing?